My thoughts on the Phillies season.

Phillies waste good pitching effort by Joe Blanton as they lose to the Brewers, 3-1.

The Phillies are unable to capitalize on a quality start by Joe Blanton as they were unable to light up their usual victim Braden Looper, as they lose to the Brewers, 3-1.

The game’s first four innings involved a pitchers’ duel between Phillies’ starter Joe Blanton and Brewers’ starter Braden Looper, as the former gave up just four singles to the Brew Crew, while the latter gave up only three singles and a walk to the Phils, with each pitcher being in just one major jam during those four innings. Things then changed in the fifth, when, with one man out, J.J. Hardy hits a solo home run, his third home run of the year, giving the Brewers a 1-0 lead. The Brewers added to their lead in the sixth, when, with two men on base, and two men out, Mike Cameron hits a two-run double, scoring both Corey Hart, who had earlier singled and had moved over to second base on Ryan Braun’s walk, and Braun, making it 3-0 Brewers. The score would remain that way until the bottom of the ninth when, with one out, Jayson Werth hits a solo home run, his second home run of the year, putting the Phils finally on the board as he made it a 3-1 Milwaukee lead. Raul Ibanez then followed with a single, bringing the tying run to the plate. The next batter, Pedro Feliz, then hits into a force out, 5-4, as Ibanez is cut down at second base. Pinch hitter Matt Stairs then came to the plate, looking to tie the score with one swing of the bat. Instead, he hits a single, putting runners on first and third, as Feliz moved over to third, with still two men out. As Eric Bruntlett went to first base to pinch run for Stairs, Chris Coste came out to pinch hit. Coste ended the ballgame by striking out, swinging, and being thrown out at first, 2-3, when the ball is dropped by Brewers’ catcher Jason Kendall, as Todd Coffey was finally able to record his second save of the year.

Joe Blanton took the lost inspite of throwing a quality start, as he went six strong innings, giving up three runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out five. His record is 0-2 with a 7.31 ERA. Chad Durbin pitched a scoreless inning in relief, giving up no hits as he struck out one. Clay Condrey pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up no runs on a walk, striking out two. Scott Eyre pitched a third of an inning, getting out the only man he would face. Ryan Madson pitched a scoreless ninth, walking a batting while striking out one. Braden Looper got the win as he threw six shut out innings, giving up just five scattered hits and walking two. His record is now 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA. Mark DiFelice pitched a scoreless inning, giving up no hits as he struck out two. Carlos Villanueva also pitched a scoreless inning, while holding the lead, giving up no hits. Todd Coffey got the save, his second of the season, as he gave up a run on three hits, while he struck out two.

The Phillies had only eight hits in the game, with Jayson Werth leading the team with two hits, a single and a home run, for the team’s only RBI. Werth’s two hits raised his average to .306. Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, Matt Stairs and Joe Blanton got the other six hits, all singles, as the Phillies were unable to put together an offensive attack during the ballgame until it was too late to have any effect.

The Phillies (6-7) conclude their three-games set with the Brewers (5-9) this afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. The game is presently in progress. The Phils send to the mound their ace Cole Hamles (0-1, 11.17), who is coming off a no-decision against the Padres on April 17, as he pitched six innings, giving up five runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out four, in the Phillies’ 8-7 lost. He will be looking for his first win while looking to improve on both his control and ball speed. His opponent will be Dave Bush (0-0, 5.40), who is coming off his second straight no-decision, although pitching better in his April 11 start against the Cubs, as he went six and a third innings, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out five, in the Brewers’ 6-5 lost. He will also be trying for his first win of the season. The Phillies will be trying to win their first series at home.

Quality starts are quite the commodity this year in the bigs. I feel for Blanton and hope the team makes it up to him. Even though they are the arch enemies, guys like Santana my heart out goes to when he pitches 7 or 8 scoreless innings and has nothing to show for it in the W column.
Tomhttp://rockymountainway.mlblogs.com

Yeah, so I’d been noticing this year, especially with the Phils’ starting five. I also they make it up to him, especially as I’d recalled that this was having to him with the A’s before he got traded to the Phils. That seems to happen at lot when you have a bullpen that tends to leak in the late innings.

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